Avoid These 3 Job Search Mistakes

Partying Like it’s 1999 and Other Mistakes You’re Making in Your Job Search
By Angela Rose, BioSpace.com

Perhaps no one (or at least no one sane) would liken their job search to a party - it’s an obviously stressful, time-consuming and sometimes disheartening process. Regardless, partying like it’s 1999 or job searching like it’s 1999 is dangerous (the one to your liver, the other to your career). In fact, relying on outdated job search techniques could be preventing you from finding your dream job.

1. Extra! Extra! Don’t Read all About it!
If you began your career in the ‘90s, your number one tool for finding open positions would have been a local or regional newspaper. This is no longer the case. Subscription numbers are down, publications are going under and most life science companies have tightened their employment budgets and are no longer placing paid job advertisements in the classifieds. If you’ve been scouring the Help Wanted section of your local rag, you’re missing out on the majority of jobs out there.

2. LinkedIn is not an auto safety device.
If you think LinkedIn is a fancy sort of seatbelt, you’re missing out on a tremendous networking tool. Networking is where it’s at in today’s job search, and much of it takes place online. Taking the time to build a web presence within the biopharma and medical device industries can pay off with surprising opportunities. Sign up for LinkedIn (a paid membership, not the free one) and showcase your talent with a well-worded profile. Create a (professional) Facebook page. Comment on popular blogs in your industry. You never know who might notice.

3. Don’t put all your huevos in one cesta.
A multi-pronged approach to the job search is by far the best. Some companies rely on networking and referrals to fill their positions. Others like to search employment websites for resumes. Still others prefer to post open positions on a job board and see who bites. If you want to maximize your opportunities, maximize your methods.

Get out there and network like it’s 2011. Don’t be shy about telling everyone you know that you’re looking for a job. Once you update your job search techniques, you’ll find that the best jobs are out there, you just need to know how to find them and get your resume to the top of the pile.